The leading cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers is radon. In the general population, which includes smokers, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon testing is strongly recommended by the EPA and the United States Surgeon General for all homes. Anyone who lives in a home that already has high radon levels are encouraged to fix radon problem. Individuals should fix radon problem if his home’s radon level is found to be 4 picocuries per liter, pCi/L or above. Even if the radon level in the home is lower than 4 pCi/L, there is still some risk.

Mitigation techniques may fix radon problem at this level, in many cases. Many times after a homeowner has tested for radon he still has questions about what to do next, and how to fix radon problem. Anyone who has tested for radon and confirmed that the radon levels are raised, 4 pCi/L or higher, is advised to contact a qualified radon mitigation contractor to fix radon problem in the home. The state radon office can supply information to homeowners about how to correctly test for radon, fix radon problem and also about how to find qualified radon mitigation professionals.

The first step a homeowner needs to take, to fix radon problem, is to select a qualified radon mitigation contractor. He or she should contact the state radon office to begin searching for a qualified contractor to fix radon problem. After the home has been tested and found to have a significant radon problem, then the resident must determine which method is appropriate to fix radon problem. Once the resident has decided to implement a method to fix radon problem, the radon contractor who the homeowner chooses to fix radon problem, will take certain facts into consideration.

These facts will include the level of the initial radon reading, the installation and operation costs of a system to fix radon problem, the size of the home and the type of foundation that it has. First, the contractor will perform a visual inspection of the house so that he can design a system that considers features specific to the house. If this visual inspection does not provide enough information, then the contractor will perform diagnostic tests.

Tests help to develop the system to fix radon problem that will be best to fix radon problem in the home. For example, the contractor can use chemical smoke to find the source and direction of air movement. He can then watch the smoke that he shoots into drains, sumps, cracks or holes to see the direction and sources of air flow in the house. This will help to determine or show possible routes for radon to travel. It is very important for the homeowner to maintain the system to fix radon problem once it is installed.

It is a long-term goal of the U.S. Congress that indoor radon levels be no more than outdoor levels. (About 0.4 pCi/L of radon normally is measured in the air outside.) The Environmental Protection Agency recommends to fix radon problem in any home where the results indicate that radon levels are 4 pCi/L or higher. Some homeowners may want to take steps to fix radon problem even if the level is 2 pCi/L or less.